as in to rant
disapproving
to speak or express your opinion about something in a way that shows that you think you are always right
We had to listen to her pontificate about the best way to raise children.
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Recent Examples of pontificate
This is the mark of a visionary—not waiting for consensus, but creating the future while others pontificate about it.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Rather than the writer pontificating about how Pfleger needs to retire from active priesthood, how about a better use of his time by advocating the notion that pedophile priests should be retired to jail.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
The actor took it as an opportunity to pontificate about the role the dog plays in the movie and to David Corenswet’s titular character.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2025
While others are content to anguish or pontificate over the plight of working San Diegans, Elo-Rivera is tackling the cost of living crisis head-on with his push to pass an ordinance mandating a $25 minimum wage for San Diego’s tourism workers.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pontificate
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Rather than the writer pontificating about how Pfleger needs to retire from active priesthood, how about a better use of his time by advocating the notion that pedophile priests should be retired to jail.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
The actor took it as an opportunity to pontificate about the role the dog plays in the movie and to David Corenswet’s titular character.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2025
While others are content to anguish or pontificate over the plight of working San Diegans, Elo-Rivera is tackling the cost of living crisis head-on with his push to pass an ordinance mandating a $25 minimum wage for San Diego’s tourism workers.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pontificate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pontificate
Verb
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Brian Cox, who can rant and rave with the best of them, will tag in once Day-Lewis is aged out.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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On a phone call with Forbes in December, the founder of the $800 million (revenue) private company WeatherTech, David MacNeil, ranted about product labels.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If the devoted nun resembles the raving patient, does that not justify locking them away, protecting ourselves from their unsettling power?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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The Age Perfect Eye Cream by L’Oréal Paris has shoppers raving about its hydrating, brightening, and smoothing ingredients that target multiple signs of aging all in one formula.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pontificate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pontificate. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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